Naturally-ventilated glass building looks like a shimmering urban mirage

This office building in Geneva features a complex glass facade that makes it look like an urban mirage. The new Headquarters of the Swiss Société Privée de Gérance (SPG), designed by Italian firm Giovanni Vaccarini Architetti, appears as an immaterial object that shimmers and vibrates in dialogue with the nighttime urban landscape in which it is set. The building sits on Route de Chêne, at the gates of the historical center of Geneva. involved the conversion and extension of the existing...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/naturally-ventilated-glass-building-looks-like-a-shimmering-urban-mirage
via Inhabitat

Dubai is building 500km of new bicycle lanes

The streets of Dubai are about to get a lot greener, after Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid approved construction of 500km of bike lanes by 2021. The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai also approved walking paths along Dubai Creek, additional metro stations and dedicated bus lanes, all in the hopes of encourage exercise and help reduce car dependence.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/dubai-is-building-new-walking-paths-and-500km-of-bicycle-lanes
via Inhabitat

Hurricane Harvey may have totaled up to 500,000 cars

Hurricane Harvey didn’t just devastate homes and businesses over the weekend, its mighty force also totaled close to half a million cars. As a result, an estimated 500,000 Texan vehicles will likely be scrapped, leading to a massive sales wave of new and used cars in the near future. While vehicle owners with insurance can write-off their flood-damaged cars, it is the environment which will ultimately suffer from this natural disaster. Compared to the fallout of other major storms,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/hurricane-harvey-may-have-totaled-up-to-500000-cars
via Inhabitat

Cummins beats Tesla with a fully-electric semi truck

Tesla is expected to unveil its electric semi truck next month, but Cummins just beat Tesla with the debut of its own fully electric heavy duty truck. Cummins is known for its hardworking diesel engines, but its now looking to the future with the debut of the electric Concept Class 7 Urban Hauler EV. The Cummins electric truck, known as AEOS is powered by a new battery pack that is lighter and denser to give the truck a longer driving range and faster charging times. The truck can carry...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/cummins-beats-tesla-with-a-fully-electric-semi-truck
via Inhabitat

1,200 dead, millions homeless due to flooding in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh

Monsoon rains are drenching India, Bangladesh, and Nepal in what some people are saying is the worst flooding disaster to hit the area in years. South Asia often battles flooding during monsoon season, which runs from around June to September, but authorities say the flooding has been worse this year. At least 1,200 people have died, and millions of people have been left homeless after the deluge. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/1200-dead-millions-homeless-due-to-flooding-in-india-nepal-and-bangladesh
via Inhabitat

Sixth mass extinction on Earth is driven by industrial farming, says leading academic

Earth is presently experiencing its sixth “mass extinction,” and humans are largely to blame, says a leading academic. In his new book The Value of Nothing: How to Reshape Market Society and Redefine Democracy, Professor Patel of the University of Texas explains how mass deforestation to clear grounds to grow mono-crops, the creation of large dead zones in the sea caused by run-off of fertilizers, and the trend of over-fishing are a detriment to the world and are driving the destruction of our...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/sixth-mass-extinction-on-earth-is-driven-by-industrial-farming-says-leading-academic
via Inhabitat

Fire ants swarm into floating rafts to survive Harvey

Stories of tragedy and heroism have emerged in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Harvey. But this tale is one you probably never expected to hear. People have spotted patches of ants floating through the floodwaters in Texas. The ants are naturally aggressive and have caused alarm among locals. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/fire-ants-swarm-into-floating-rafts-to-survive-harvey
via Inhabitat

This new Berlin apartment building literally purifies the city's air

Daniel Libeskind's first residential project in Berlin, named Sapphire, is a faceted building clad in self-cleaning stoneware tiles that help purify the air. Manufacturer Casalgrande Padana produced the three-dimensional geometric-patterned tiles coated in a layer of titanium dioxide which allows them to break down dirt and grime when exposed to the sun's UV rays. The crystalline facade of the building is dominated by angular windows and canted walls that create balconies and intimate outdoor...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/this-new-berlin-apartment-building-literally-purifies-the-citys-air
via Inhabitat

MINI re-envisions the Cooper hatchback as an EV

MINI will add a new electric car to its lineup sometime during 2019, but to preview its new EV, MINI has unveiled the MINI Electric Concept. The concept is a futuristic interpretation of the MINI Cooper hatchback with unique details that we may see on the new electric car. The MINI Electric Concept will have its official debut at the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show next month, where it will test the public's perception to a new electrified MINI. It's been nearly ten years since MINI released...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/mini-re-envisions-the-cooper-hatchback-as-an-ev
via Inhabitat

Massive 'plastic monster' art installation engulfs museum visitors

Related: Reusable Universes: Shih Chieh Huang continues at the Worcester Art Museum (55 Salisbury Street, Worcester, MA) through November 12. + Shih Chieh Huang + Worcester Art Museum Via Hyper Allergic Shih Chieh Huang, Reusable Universes, Worcester Art Museum , plastic art,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/massive-plastic-monster-art-installation-engulfs-museum-visitors
via Inhabitat

Megacities could save $505 million a year thanks to trees

Trees provide an enormous monetary benefit to megacities, or those urban areas where over 10 million people reside. Researchers scrutinized 10 cities around the world and estimated the amount of their trees using the i-Tree model developed by the United States Forest Service, and their discovery shows cities would do well not to overlook the incredible value of these plants. They could offer cities a payoff of $482 million in lowered air pollution, $11 million in stormwater remediation, $8 million...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/megacities-could-save-505-million-a-year-thanks-to-trees
via Inhabitat

Build your own BIG-designed LEGO House with LEGO Architectures newest kit

As if playing in a LEGO wonderland wasn’t enough, we just got wind of another reason to get excited over the BIG-designed LEGO House’s grand opening next month. The iconic toy company just unveiled official images of a new LEGO Architecture kit that’ll let you build your very own LEGO experience center at home. The 774-piece model replica of the nearly complete LEGO House in Billund, Denmark will be sold exclusively at the center when it opens on September 28. The new LEGO House,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/build-your-own-big-designed-lego-house-with-lego-architectures-newest-kit
via Inhabitat

Sound-absorbing materials fold into a giant origami-like meeting pod

Open-plan offices are great in theory, but their noisy nature can make holding meetings a pain. Leanne Zilka of Zilka Studio has come up with a pop-up solution in the form of PleatPod, an origami-like meeting pavilion made with sound-absorbing materials. The eye-catching meeting space was commissioned by RMIT University and created in collaboration with textile designer Jenny Underwood. The portable pop-up meeting pod stretches out like an accordion into its desired cylindrical shape and...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/sound-absorbing-materials-fold-into-a-giant-origami-like-meeting-pod
via Inhabitat

Hurricane Harvey damaged ExxonMobil refineries, causing hazardous pollutants to leak

After Hurricane Harvey devastated parts of Texas last weekend, you probably didn’t think the situation could get any worse. Sadly, it did. On Tuesday, ExxonMobil acknowledged that two of its refineries were damaged during the natural disaster, causing hazardous pollutants to leak into the environment. The acknowledgment was made in a regulatory filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, following repeated complaints on social media of an “unbearable” chemical...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/hurricane-harvey-damaged-exxonmobil-refineries-causing-hazardous-pollutants-to-leak
via Inhabitat

Lakeside cabin made out of reclaimed wood is as idyllic as it gets

Related: + Hoedemaker Pfeiffer Photography by Thomas J. Story Lake Chelan, Hoedemaker Pfeiffer, cabin, alpine cabins, cabin design,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/lakeside-cabin-made-out-of-reclaimed-wood-is-as-idyllic-as-it-gets
via Inhabitat

Facial deformities in Uganda apes linked to pesticide use

Our pesticides may be harming animals that live nearby, according to new research. A group of 10 scientists led by Paris' Musée de l'Homme and the Great Ape Conservation Project at Kibale National Park in Uganda found baboons and chimpanzees with facial deformities near an agricultural area, where the researchers heard of the use of eight pesticides. 25 percent of chimpanzees they monitored displayed abnormalities like reduced nostrils, reproductive issues, hypopigmentation, cleft lip, or limb ...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/facial-deformities-in-uganda-apes-linked-to-pesticide-use
via Inhabitat

Edible schoolyards sprout across war-torn Syria

As the Syrian Civil War continues into its sixth year, life carries on for the millions of Syrians who remain in the divided, war-torn country. To meet basic needs in the midst of the chaos and to provide young people with a healthy place to play and learn, schoolyards across the country are being reborn as vegetable gardens. At these edible playgrounds, children learn how to grow tasty, nutritious treats, like peppers, eggplants, and lettuce, then are able to harvest and eat what they have grown....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/edible-schoolyards-sprout-across-war-torn-syria
via Inhabitat

sCarabane: a self-sufficient collapsible caravan powered by sun and wind

Green camping in the future could get a lot more glamorous with the sCarabane caravan from Green Cat Technologies. The France-based company has designed a self-sufficient caravan that gets fancy with its clean technologies: you'll find solar cells but also a solar concentrator to generate hot water, and a telescopic wind turbine. The foldable caravan can rotate 360 degrees to follow the sun - and provide incredible views. Related: Live off the grid and rent-free in the charming Wohnwagon...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/scarabane-a-self-sufficient-collapsible-caravan-powered-by-sun-and-wind
via Inhabitat

BMW releases a sportier i3 electric car

With the exception of models, like the Tesla Model S, BMW i8 and even the Acura NSX, the words "sport" and "electric car" are rarely ever said in the same sentence. Leave it to BMW to change that with the debut of the 2018 BMW i3s, which is a sportier version of the i3 electric car. Last year the BMW i3 received a nice battery upgrade for the 2017 model year and this year, part of the upgrades include the introduction of the i3s. For starters the i3s isn't going to speed past a Tesla Model S,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/bmw-releases-a-sportier-i3-electric-car
via Inhabitat

This gorgeous 'Tree House Tower' was built using repurposed timber and old ship materials

Related: + Via Dwell

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/this-gorgeous-tree-house-tower-was-built-using-repurposed-timber-and-old-ship-materials
via Inhabitat

Iowa grocery grows 10-15 lbs of produce on outdoor vertical garden - every week

It doesn't get much more local than a vertical garden growing produce outside a supermarket for sale inside. That's the setup at a Davenport, Iowa Hy-Vee grocery store, where local company Friday's Fresh Market installed and maintains a Grow Wall, an eight-tower hydroponic vertical garden. Owner Andrew Freitag said they can obtain between 10 and 15 pounds of fresh produce, depending on the crop, from the Grow Wall every week.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/iowa-store-grows-10-15-lbs-of-produce-on-outdoor-vertical-garden-every-week
via Inhabitat

Every home in this UK neighborhood is its own power plant

Related: + Via Fast Company

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/every-home-in-this-uk-neighborhood-is-its-own-power-plant
via Inhabitat

Harvey forces National Weather Service to add new color to its rainfall map

Over the weekend, Texas was hit by a potent Category 4 hurricane named Hurricane Harvey. After the natural disaster dumped more than 30 inches on the state and unleashed winds as strong as 130 mph, causing widespread destruction, weather forecasters at the National Weather Services (NWS) had no choice but to add another color to their rainfall map. Lavender now represents “unfathomable” amounts of rain. In some Texan cities, rainfall was predicted to exceed 50 inches. As a result,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/harvey-forces-national-weather-service-to-add-new-color-to-its-rainfall-map
via Inhabitat

Drone video offers sneak peek at BIGs LEGO House, set to open next month

After four years, the long-awaited LEGO House is set to open next month—and we can’t wait! Designed by Bjarke Ingels Group, this larger-than-life LEGO building is a treat for the eyes with its 21 interlocking LEGO-like parts and stunning keystone on top. Set to open to the public on September 28, the 130,000-square-foot building will offer free and paid “experiences” all centered around play and exploration in Billund, Denmark. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFC5cxvtVmE LEGO’s...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/drone-video-offers-sneak-peek-at-bigs-lego-house-set-to-open-next-month
via Inhabitat

Light glides softly inside this cylindrical modern church in the Czech Republic

A beautiful modern church that looks like a sculptural work of art has popped up in a Czech village. Brno-based studio Atelier Štěpán designed the Church of St Wenceslas that combines inspiration from the historic rotundas built in the 10th century with contemporary and minimalist styles. The church has become the new focal point for Sazovice, a village that had sought a new church since before World War II. The Church of St Wenceslas was carefully placed at the heart of Sazovice...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/light-glides-softly-inside-this-cylindrical-modern-church-in-the-czech-republic
via Inhabitat

6 ways you can help people affected by Tropical Storm Harvey

Tropical Storm Harvey is battering the Houston area, affecting around 6.8 million people, according to federal disaster declarations. How can you help? Whether you live close to the disaster in Texas or on the other side of the world, here are ways you can support people hit by the storm. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/6-ways-you-can-help-people-affected-by-tropical-storm-harvey
via Inhabitat

Whole Foods prices just dropped by as much as 43%

Until recently, few people could afford to shop at Whole Foods regularly. Now that Amazon has bought out the grocery chain for $13.7 billion, however, big changes are underway. On its first day, the internet giant slashed some of the store’s prices by up to 43 percent. The goal is to upend the way customers shop and ensure more people have access to affordable, healthy food. The first step to addressing the store’s reputation for being overpriced (which has led some to call it...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/whole-foods-prices-just-dropped-by-as-much-as-43
via Inhabitat

Australia now generates enough renewable energy to power 70% of homes

Renewable energy is taking over Australia. New figures reveal the sector generated enough electricity to run 70 percent of Australian homes during the last financial year, according to Green Energy Markets. But even better than that, once 2016-2017 clean power projects are completed, renewable energy actually might be able to power 90 percent of homes. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/australia-now-generates-enough-renewable-energy-to-power-70-of-homes
via Inhabitat

Kenya introduces world's harshest law on plastic bags

Kenya has been a major plastic bag exporter to the nearby region. But now the country is cracking down on the polluting bags with the toughest law of its kind in the world. Kenyans selling, producing, or just using plastic bags could face a $40,000 fine or imprisonment for four years.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/kenya-introduces-worlds-harshest-law-on-plastic-bags
via Inhabitat

Elon Musks Boring Company receives green light to dig a two-mile test tunnel

Progress is being made on Elon Musk’s version of the Hyperloop, a supersonic train that could potentially travel up to 700 mph. Yesterday, the City Council in Hawthorne, California, voted four to one in favor of allowing Musk’s Boring Company to dig a two-mile-long underground test tunnel. The newly-approved extension will stretch beyond the company’s property line outside of Los Angeles and will run 44 feet below the public roads and utilities that surround SpaceX headquarters. Reportedly,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/elon-musks-boring-company-receives-green-light-to-dig-a-two-mile-test-tunnel
via Inhabitat

New Tesla Powerpack system to offer energy savings of 40-50%

Tesla has pioneered massive battery storage projects this year, such as the 396 Powerpack facility in Southern California. But a recent project in Queensland, Australia reveals installations don't always need to be huge to make an impact. Tesla installed a system with a single Powerpack and commercial inverter at The Cathedral College in Rockhampton to store solar energy to help power the boarding school at night. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/new-tesla-powerpack-system-to-offer-energy-savings-of-40-50
via Inhabitat

7 of the best places to view autumn foliage around the world

Montreal, QC -> Burlington, VT Fujigoko/Fuji Five Lakes Region, Japan Prague, Czech Republic Great Smoky Mountains, NC/TN Huangshan Mountain, China Highlands, Scotland Michigan

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/7-of-the-best-places-to-view-autumn-foliage-around-the-world
via Inhabitat

This carbon nanotube yarn generates power when pulled

Power-producing yarn is the stuff of wearable inventors' dreams. And scientists just created a yarn comprised of carbon nanotubes and submerged in an electrolyte gel that when stretched, generates electricity. The yarn isn't ideal for sweaters - but can harvest power from a wearer's breathing. And there's another surprising application: the yarn could harvest energy from ocean waves. Related: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lt2vGlC4uRc

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/this-carbon-nanotube-yarn-generates-power-when-pulled
via Inhabitat

A lacy skin fills this Kenyan apartment building with sunlight and fresh air

A lace-like structural skin filters natural light into the interior of this apartment building in Mombasa, Kenya. Urko Sánchez Architects wrapped the building in two layers–one that acts as the first barrier against excessive heat and sunlight, and another, inner one, comprised of handcrafted wood-lattice shutters. The building occupies a narrow, sloping lot located on the waterfront of Tudor Creek, Mombasa. This privileged location offers stunning breathtaking panoramic views on the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/a-lacy-skin-fills-this-kenyan-apartment-building-with-sunlight-and-fresh-air
via Inhabitat

Life-saving LifeArk snaps together like LEGOs to provide emergency off-grid housing

Architect Charles Wee didn’t have grand plans to save the world—but that’s exactly what his incredible LifeArk could do. Designed for disaster relief, LifeArk is a prefabricated, modular building system for quickly deployable and affordable housing that can operate 100% off the grid. These self-sustainable life-saving homes, which can be scaled up into communities, can pop up virtually anywhere to float on water or be anchored on land. Thanks to its innovative HDPE materials and production...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/life-saving-lifeark-snaps-together-like-legos-to-provide-emergency-off-grid-housing
via Inhabitat

Beautiful visitors center curves around a semi-natural ice rink in a Japanese forest

Tokyo-based Klein Dytham architecture completed a beautiful timber-clad visitor center befitting its surroundings in a breathtaking Japanese forest. Set in the foothills of the active volcano Mount Asama in Karuizawa, the Picchio Ice Rink Visitors Center welcomes tourists who flock to the area for hiking in the summer and ice-skating in winter. The architecture and landscape are sensitive to nature, particularly the site’s natural flow of water and ecosystem, and also draws direct inspiration from...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/beautiful-visitors-center-curves-around-a-semi-natural-ice-rink-in-a-japanese-forest
via Inhabitat

Lotus-inspired public space collects rainwater to reduce Da Nangs runoff footprint

Urban stormwater runoff poses serious risks to safety and the environment and cities around the world are taking note. HUNI Architectes tackles Da Nang’s runoff footprint with their competition-winning design for the Da Nang City Center Square in Vietnam. Designed with SUDS (sustainable urban drainage systems), this attractive lotus flower-inspired square will create a vibrant public space and destination that collects and reduces stormwater runoff. HUNI Architectes’ design beat a shortlist...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/lotus-inspired-public-space-collects-rainwater-to-reduce-da-nangs-runoff-footprint
via Inhabitat

Modular shed-like addition turns a 1930s bungalow into a open, light-filled home

A 1930s Californian Bungalow in Sydney received a modern shed-like addition that maximizes the potential of the original structure. Architect Prineas designed the addition as a modular structure that's easy to build and replicate for optimal flexibility. The Allen Key House comprises an original 1930s bungalow and an modern, modular addition conceived as a shed-like structure. The latter emphasizes the kitchen and entertaining areas and acts as the true heart of the home. Related: A translucent...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/modular-shed-like-addition-turns-a-1930s-bungalow-into-a-open-light-filled-home
via Inhabitat

Teslas electric truck will have a 200-300 mile range

More details have been obtained about the Tesla Semi truck which is set to be unveiled next month. According to an exclusive report by Reuters, the big rig has a working range of 200 to 300 miles. To accommodate the reduction of mileage, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is considering developing an electric tractor trailer to accompany the vehicle. Scott Perry of Ryder, a fleet operator in Florida, told Reuters that Tesla is building “an electric big-rig known as a ‘day cab’ with no sleeper berth, capable...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/teslas-electric-truck-will-have-a-200-300-mile-range
via Inhabitat

Australian pilot aims for 50,000 metric tons of building material from CO2 by 2020

Carbon dioxide emissions could be converted into a useful building material in a project from Australian firm Mineral Carbonation International (MCi). They just unveiled a research pilot plant at the Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources. It appears they took a hint from nature: the company says their process mimics but speeds up weathering from rainfall that produces rocks. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/australian-pilot-aims-for-50000-metric-tons-of-concrete-made-from-co2-by-2020
via Inhabitat

Gyroscopic driving cabins may revolutionize urban travel

What do you get when you mix a car with a segway? A futuristic Gyroscopic wheel with a joystick that may just be the future of urban commuting. Related: Zero-emission hydrogen-powered car is designed to revolutionize everyday travel + Sanu K R Via Yanko Design Sanu K R, gyroscopic public transportation system, public transport design, private transport design, futuristic cars, futuristic transportation concept,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/gyroscopic-driving-cabins-may-revolutionize-urban-travel
via Inhabitat

Hundreds of people come together to save beached whale in Brazil

A beached whale is a tragic sight - but beachgoers in Brazil didn't sit by when it happened on their beach. Hundreds of people rallied around a beached whale in Buzios, Brazil, digging around the whale and tossing water on it in a bid to save its life. They spent hours trying to save the animal, and were rewarded with the return of high tide. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/hundreds-of-people-come-together-to-try-and-save-beached-whale-in-brazil
via Inhabitat

9 incredible pod homes to help you win at off-grid living

If your #lifegoals include living off the grid somewhere, surrounded by nature, then check this out. We've rounded up the best off-grid living pods that are not only affordable, but can be moved almost anywhere. Pod Space pre-fab pop-up pods Pod Space's award winning pre-fab pods can be installed just about anywhere you can dream of. The modular pods are customizable, so you can use them as a backyard office, an extra room, or even a fully-equipped tiny home. The best part is the floor-to-ceiling...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/9-incredible-pod-homes-to-help-you-win-at-off-grid-living
via Inhabitat

Scientists just discovered snow on Mars

Forget everything you know — or think you know — about Mars. In the study Nature Geoscience, scientists confirm that there is, in fact, snow on Mars. It’s not what you might think, however. The red planet experiences explosions of snow known as “ice microbursts” which only occur in the shadows and are very unlike the snowfall on Earth. This finding is challenging previous notions about Mars’ history and the likelihood of future generations colonizing it. The clouds have...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/scientists-just-discovered-snow-on-mars
via Inhabitat

Herzog & de Meuron unveil monastery-inspired campus for new Berggruen Institute in California

Related: + Herzog & de Meuron Via Dezeen Herzog & de Meuron, berggruen institute, los angeles architecture,

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/herzog-de-meuron-unveil-monastery-inspired-campus-for-new-berggruen-institute-in-california
via Inhabitat

Trump administration halts study on health risks of living near coal mining sites

The Donald Trump administration seems to be plugging its ears and closing its eyes against the mention of any health risks of residing near coal mines. His Department of the Interior recently shut down a study on potential health impacts for people living close to coal mining sites in Central Appalachia, citing a changing budget. The Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign representative Bill Price told The Washington Post, "It's infuriating that Trump would halt this study...that people in Appalachia...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/trump-administration-halts-study-on-health-risks-of-living-near-coal-mining-sites
via Inhabitat

Timber cabin on wheels lets you hit the open road in luxurious comfort

Seek adventure on the open road without leaving the comforts of home—that’s the charm of ESCAPE, a Wisconsin-based company that designs and builds RVs that look like tiny towable cabins. We’re always impressed by ESCAPE’s line of tiny homes on wheels and their latest addition, Escape ONE XL, is no exception. Clad in charred wood siding, the ONE XL was launched this month and comfortably sleeps up to eight inside a surprisingly lavish modern interior. We’ve seen many tiny...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/timber-cabin-on-wheels-lets-you-hit-the-open-road-in-luxurious-comfort
via Inhabitat

Schmidt Hammer Lassen adds modern Scandinavian design to Detroit

Schmidt Hammer Lassen’s first project in the U.S. will dramatically modernize the look of downtown Detroit. Expected to break ground in early 2018, the Monroe Block project is a mixed-use development with shimmering glass towers. The cluster of five buildings will feature pedestrian friendly design with plenty of greenery inside and out. Located next to Detroit’s historic theater district, the Monroe Block will comprise 810,000 square feet of office space, 170,000 square feet of...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/schmidt-hammer-lassen-adds-modern-scandinavian-design-to-detroit
via Inhabitat

A rooftop urban oasis springs to life in a polluted NYC neighborhood

Families who visit the Brooklyn Children’s Museum in the summertime will now have a cool new roof terrace to hang out in without getting blasted by the sun. The rooftop terrace has been closed to the public for the past three years, but this weekend, the museum will unveil a space that includes landscaping and a winged canopy that takes center stage. The seeds for the Newtown Creek Wildflower Roof were first planted in 2015 when Marni Majorelle and her landscape design company Alive...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/an-urban-oasis-springs-to-life-in-nycs-newtown-creek-wildflower-roof
via Inhabitat

Worlds largest book store opens in Tehran, Iran

Book enthusiasts, we’ve found your dream destination. In Tehran, Iran, the world’s largest book store, called the Book Garden, opened on Wednesday. The giant academic complex is roughly 65,000 square meters (approximately 700,000 square feet) and features millions of books. Several movie theaters, science halls, classrooms a prayer room and even a restaurant can be found on the premise, as well. The Book Garden aims to encourage Iranian children to be “active and creative through...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/worlds-largest-book-store-opens-in-tehran-iran
via Inhabitat

NASA unveils plan to make oxygen on Mars

On the trek to Mars, there won't be a lot of room in spacecraft to tote canisters of oxygen so future colonists can breathe, at least initially. So NASA's working around that issue with an attempt to create oxygen from the red planet's thin atmosphere. Their 2020 Rover will be equipped with the Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) device, which will try and make oxygen via electrolysis. The oxygen could be not only used for breathing, but for rocket fuel. Related:...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/nasa-unveils-plan-to-make-oxygen-on-mars
via Inhabitat

Audi's new rooftop-solar-powered car expected by the end of 2017

The idea of a solar powered car has been a dream for years, with many little known companies promising to bring the concept to a reality. The solar powered car now may finally come to life, since Audi has announced that it is working on a solar-powered prototype that will be built by the end of 2017. Audi has teamed up with Alta Devices, a division of the Chinese solar-cell specialist, Hanergy, to develop thin-film solar cells that can be integrated into a panoramic glass roof. The solar...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/audis-new-rooftop-solar-powered-car-expected-by-the-end-of-2017
via Inhabitat

Solar panel-covered cyborg bacteria are better at photosynthesis than plants

Could cyborg bacteria generate the clean fuel of the future? Work conducted at Peidong Yang's laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley basically allowed bacteria to cover themselves in small semiconductors that functioned like solar panels. The bacteria were able to capture sunlight with an efficiency of 80 percent - around four times better than today's solar panels and six times better than chlorophyll in plants. Related: Via Images via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/solar-panel-covered-cyborg-bacteria-are-better-at-photosynthesis-than-plants
via Inhabitat

Why Alaska's vanishing permafrost worries researchers

We can try to slow climate change by reducing our use of fossil fuels. But permafrost - which is thawing right now - could contribute up to 1.7 degrees Fahrenheit to global warming during the upcoming centuries, regardless of what we do. Alaska's permafrost is incredibly vulnerable, and could largely disappear by the middle of the century. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/why-alaskas-vanishing-permafrost-worries-researchers
via Inhabitat

Frank Gehry's twisting, mountainous skyscraper takes shape at LUMA Arles

New photos of Frank Gehry's tower at LUMA Arles, currently under construction, show a mountainous, twisting structure taking shape on the 16-acre site in France. The tower will house a variety of functions, including research facilities, workshop and seminar room, as well as artist studios. The building is expected to be completed in spring 2019. The 9,000-square-metre stainless steel tower sits on LUMA Arles, a large site previously occupied by 19th century railroad workshops. Today, this area...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/frank-gehrys-twisting-mountainous-skyscraper-takes-shape-at-luma-arles
via Inhabitat

Elon Musk reveals first official photo of the SpaceX space suit

Today on Instagram, Elon Musk surprised fans by sharing the first official photo of the SpaceX space suit. In the caption, he teased details about the suit, mentioning that it definitely works and was tested to double vacuum pressure. White and futuristic looking, Musk admitted that it was “incredibly hard” to balance the suit’s look and function. "First picture of SpaceX spacesuit," Musk wrote. "More in days to follow. Worth noting that this actually works (not a mockup). Already...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/elon-musk-reveals-the-first-official-photo-of-the-spacex-space-suit
via Inhabitat

China's Binhe Yellow River Bridge unveils a rainbow waterfall of LED light

China's iconic Binhe Yellow River Bridge has received a new LED illumination system that bathes the structure and the river  below in an array of beautiful colors. The The Binhe Yellow River Bridge's unique architectural design is complemented by Philips Color Kinetics technology which gives an impression that a waterfall is running right under the bridge. The double-cable suspension bridge spans the entire width of the Yellow River - the sixth longest river system in the world. Completed...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/chinas-binhe-yellow-river-bridge-unveils-a-rainbow-waterfall-of-led-light
via Inhabitat

Scientists observe 'diamond rain' similar to that found on icy giant planets

You may have heard that icy giant planets like Neptune and Uranus experience diamond rain. But now, scientists have been able to mimic conditions of those planets and observe diamond rain at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California. Since it's difficult for us at this point in time to directly observe the interiors of these planets, such research could help scientists better understand and classify worlds.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/scientists-observe-diamond-rain-similar-to-that-found-on-icy-giant-planets
via Inhabitat

Fly down a zipline in the Willy Wonka-esque Future Forest in London

Bompas & Parr are like real-life Willy Wonkas—and they brought their magic touch to the inside of a UK shopping mall. The design duo launched a free ‘Future Forest’ in the Westfield London shopping center with the theme of urban reforestation. The immersive experience is an incredible indoor forest playground with a fantastical Fruit Cloud, electricity-producing plants, a historic tree circus, and even a 40-meter-long zip-line that starts atop a 5.3-meter-high treehouse. The...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/fly-down-a-zipline-in-the-willy-wonka-esque-future-forest-in-london
via Inhabitat

A wave of buckets hijacks public space in Mexico City

How much fun can you have with paint buckets? The designers at Factor Eficiencia and 5468796 Architecture prove that objects as mundane as paint buckets can be transformed into a vibrant public space with the power of creative thinking. The interactive installation, called ‘One Bucket at a Time,’ is a wave-shaped space with seating developed for MEXTROPOLI 2017, a four-day architecture festival in Mexico City. Mexico City is one of the largest cities in the world with a population...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/a-wave-of-buckets-hijacks-public-space-in-mexico-city
via Inhabitat

Futuristic play pod helps revitalize Amsterdam's vanishing paddling pools

A large pebble-shaped object recently emerged from Amsterdam's Oosterpark paddling pool, designed by famous Dutch architect Aldo van Eyck. The new structure, dotted with climbing holes and equipped with integrated sprayers, was conceived by architecture firm Carve as an addition which would help Oosterpark become a kids magnet once again. Aldo van Eyck designed more than 700 public play zones in Amsterdam in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s. For decades these additions to the city parks, as well as the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/futuristic-play-pod-helps-revitalize-amsterdams-vanishing-paddling-pools
via Inhabitat

Chile halts $2.5 billion mining project to protect endangered Humboldt Penguins

Good news for environmentalists and the animals they seek to protect. The Chilean government recently halted a $2.5 billion mining project which would have destroyed habitats of the very rare Humboldt penguins. The Dominga Project was set to begin mining copper and iron in the Coquimbo region of central Chile and would have produced 12 million tons of iron ore and 150,000 tons of copper each year. Because the environmental risk was too great, however, the project was effectively shut down. IFLScience...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/chile-halts-2-5-billion-mining-project-to-protect-endangered-humboldt-penguins
via Inhabitat

Solar-powered robotic umbrella tracks the sun to provide shade

What if you could sit outside in shade all day without ever having to move your umbrella? That's the vision ShadeCraft brings to life with their Sunflower, which they describe as the world's first autonomous robotic shade that tracks the sun. The smart umbrella is solar-powered - and can even charge other devices. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-robotic-umbrella-tracks-the-sun-to-provide-shade
via Inhabitat

Hyundai's first long-range EV arrives next year

Hyundai has been pretty quiet on its electric car plans, with the exception of the recently introduced Ioniq models. Hyundai has now confirmed that it will introduce new extended range electric cars within the next few years, with the first being a 200 mile range SUV, which will be followed by a sedan with a 300 mile range. It had already been rumored that the new Hyundai Kona SUV would get a fully electric version, but now Hyundai has confirmed it. The small Kona SUV will get an electric version...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/hyundais-first-long-range-ev-arrives-next-year
via Inhabitat

How orange peels helped barren land in Costa Rica spring back to life

Back in the 1990's, two ecologists suggested orange juice manufacturer Del Oro donate some of their land near a national park in Costa Rica, with the return they'd be able to deposit agricultural waste for free on degraded land. Del Oro agreed and dumped 1,000 truckloads orange pulp and peels on the barren land. Today, that area is a thriving forest. A team of researchers led by Princeton University journeyed to the forest to discover just how much that food trash transformed the forest - and how...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/how-orange-peels-helped-barren-land-in-costa-rica-spring-back-to-life
via Inhabitat

NASA considers puncturing Yellowstone supervolcano to save life on Earth

As the gaze of the United States, carefully protected by glasses, faced towards the cosmos this week, the more anxious among us may have worried about potentially more harmful interstellar phenomenon, such as asteroids and comets. As devastating as such an event would be, a new study from NASA's Jet Propulsion unit has determined that the threat of a supervolcanic eruption to life on Earth may be more pressing than any interstellar collissions with Earth. Such an eruption from a supervolcano, like...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/nasa-considers-puncturing-yellowstone-supervolcano-to-save-life-on-earth
via Inhabitat

True North Detroit is an affordable live-work community made from prefab Quonset huts

A variety of grassroots initiatives and local organizations are transforming Detroit from one of the country's most dangerous cities into a testing ground for urban innovation. Edwin Chan and his Los Angeles–based design practice EC3 recognized the potential of the city's underutilized small community spaces and recently completed True North Detroit, a half-acre live-work community made from lightweight prefabricated Quonset huts. This small complex of nine vaulted buildings offers an affordable...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/true-north-detroit-is-an-affordable-live-work-community-made-from-prefab-quonset-huts
via Inhabitat

People are using recycled laptop batteries to power their homes

Why spend thousands of dollars on a Tesla Powerwall when you could build your own for a fraction of the cost? This is a question many alternative energy enthusiasts have asked, and it is ultimately what has led hundreds of people to develop their own versions using recycled laptop batteries. Now that plans for DIY Powerwalls are being shared for free online, several people have created rigs capable of storing far more energy than the Tesla version. On Facebook, YouTube and in forums,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/people-are-using-recycled-laptop-batteries-to-power-their-homes
via Inhabitat

Zhang Chenxi creates realistic alien creatures that we actually wish existed

When we think of aliens, we usually conjure up images of green-skinned aliens or knobby-fingered creatures like E.T., but an artist let his imagination run wild with a series of 80 digitally-rendered aliens. UI/UX designer and 3D artist Zhang Chenxi developed an art series titled “Unknown x Unknown” in which he explored what other forms these intergalactic beings could take and the results are far from creepy. Zhang Chenxi’s digital illustrations are bursting with color and so much...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/an-artist-digitally-rendered-alien-creatures-and-we-actually-wish-they-existed
via Inhabitat

Rhino horn auction website says legal sales "best way to save the rhino"

Could legal rhino horn sales actually save the endangered species? The world's biggest rhino breeder, John Hume, seems to think so. International rhino horn trade has been banned, but in April South Africa opened up domestic sales. After a South Africa court approved the rhino horn auction website, Hume - who owns a rhino ranch with over 1,500 rhinos in Klerksdorp - is set to move forward with the auction. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/rhino-horn-auction-website-says-legal-sales-best-way-to-save-the-rhino
via Inhabitat

PUP Architects hides a dwelling inside a rooftop air duct-shaped pavilion

PUP Architects disguised a dwelling as a rooftop air duct to bring attention to London’s housing crisis. The unusual pop-up pavilion is the winner of this year’s Architecture Foundation Antepavilion competition for sustainable housing alternatives. The “guerrilla habitation” project playfully exploits development loopholes by fashioning a habitable rooftop space atop a canal-side warehouse in east London. PUP Architect’s H-VAC structure beat out 128 proposals in property...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/pup-architects-hides-a-dwelling-inside-a-rooftop-air-duct-shaped-pavilion
via Inhabitat

Perkins + Will overhauls a boring concrete warehouse into beautiful LEED Gold offices

At first glance, it’s hard to imagine that this gorgeous light-filled building was once an uninspiring concrete monolith. It’s a testament to the architectural might of Perkins + Will, which transformed the 1940s military warehouse in San Francisco into the LEED Gold-certified Bay Area Metro Center. Constructed with recycled materials, this eight-story adaptive reuse project features soaring ceilings with state-of-the-art offices, community hearing spaces, a boardroom, and ground floor retail. Located...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/perkins-will-overhauls-a-boring-concrete-warehouse-into-beautiful-leed-gold-offices
via Inhabitat

Artist Ai Wewei to install fences around 300 sites in New York City

Chinese artist Ai Weiwei is returning to New York, and he’s bringing plenty of creative genius with him. For his new project “Good Fences Make New Neighbors,” the social activist will be installing more than 100 fences and installations around New York City in one of his largest public art projects to date. Inspired by Robert Frost’s poem “Mending Wall,” the fences are a reaction to “a retreat from the essential attitude of openness” in American politics, he said. The...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/artist-ai-wewei-to-install-fences-around-300-sites-in-new-york-city
via Inhabitat

This DIY trellis doubles as a lush private oasis with seating

Are you looking for ways to spruce up your yard with some nifty DIY outdoor furniture? This wooden trellis built by Notcot's Jean Aw and Shawn Sims is a beautiful, simple solution that can be placed anywhere. The trellis doesn't function only as support for beautiful passion flowers, but also doubles as a private nook with an L-shaped wooden bench. The couple wanted to create a private space for their back yard that's comfortable to lounge on. They paired it with smaller coffee...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/this-diy-trellis-doubles-as-a-lush-private-oasis-with-seating
via Inhabitat

Harvard researchers just developed self-healing rubber

Products that utilize rubber will soon become more efficient, thanks to a self-healing variety which was invented by researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS). Their research, published in Advanced Materials, reveals how they developed a hybrid rubber with both covalent and reversible bonds so it can repair itself. While self-healing materials aren’t new (researchers at SEAS created self-healing hydrogens which rely on water to...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/harvard-researchers-just-developed-self-healing-rubber
via Inhabitat

Trump administration disbands climate change advisory panel

Donald Trump's administration appears determined to sweep away federal efforts to address climate change. The Washington Post reported over the weekend that the administration would disband the Advisory Committee for the Sustained National Climate Assessment, a group comprised of academics, officials, and representatives from corporations. Committee chair Richard Moss said the risky move could hurt the economic prospects of the next generation. Related: an advisory panel for the National...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/trump-administration-disbands-climate-change-advisory-panel
via Inhabitat

First designed for Burning Man, foldable Shiftpods now shelter refugees around the world

Around 70,000 people venture to Burning Man, the arts festival in Black Rock Desert, Nevada, every year. They stay for around a week exposed to the elements of the desert, so shelter is crucial. A friend's hexayurt inspired Advanced Shelter Systems Inc. (ASSI) founder Christian Weber, who's attended for over 20 years, to design a better hexayurt that overcomes issues of some old designs, like fragility and assembly difficulty. He not only came up with housing for the festival, but a sturdy shelter...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/first-designed-for-burning-man-foldable-shiftpods-now-shelter-refugees-around-the-world
via Inhabitat

How long US residents have to wait until the next solar eclipse

If after watching today’s highly-anticipated total solar eclipse you find yourself wanting more, don’t fret. In just 2,422 days — or approximately seven years, another “once in a lifetime” event will occur in the United States. The total solar eclipse will take place on April 8, 2024, and its path will include cities like Dallas and Indianapolis. Technically, the next solar eclipse will occur outside of the United States on July 2, 2019. Only those in South American countries,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/how-long-us-residents-have-to-wait-until-the-next-solar-eclipse
via Inhabitat

Three glass arms and a sunken visitor center enhance this renovated Dutch park

New triangular-shaped visitor center in Park Vijversburg, the Netherlands, acts as an extension of the adjacent historical villa and has a minimal impact on the parkland. Studio Maks and Junya Ishigami + Associates designed its sloping corridors to stretch out into the park and provide visitors with new vistas of the surrounding landscape. The addition to the recently refurbished park aims to accommodate the increasing number of visitors by providing new exhibition and meeting spaces. Studio...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/three-glass-arms-and-a-sunken-visitors-center-enhance-this-renovated-dutch-park
via Inhabitat

Why Los Angeles has started to paint its streets white

Though it lacks the humidity of East Coast heat, Los Angeles still burns. The City of Angels is one of the only places in the United States in which heat-related deaths occur regularly during the winter. This public health hazard is only expected to worsen as climate change gains strength over the next decades. Located in a desert valley and dominated by asphalt roads to facilitate its car culture, LA is extremely vulnerable but fortunately innovative. The sprawling cityscape of nearly 4 million...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/why-los-angeles-has-started-to-paint-its-streets-white
via Inhabitat

New images show progress on the next world's tallest building

New images of the Calatrava-designed Dubai Creek Tower have emerged, showing the footprint of what is expected to become the world's next tallest building. Developer Emaar Properties released construction site photos and video of the 2.3 square-mile Dubai Creek Harbour complex, with which they intend to eclipse the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest structure since 2010. Emaar Properties and Dubai Holdings joined together to build the new complex in Dubai, with a 3,045-foot tower designed by Calatrava...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/new-images-show-progress-on-the-next-worlds-tallest-building
via Inhabitat

Zacua introduces the first electric car from Mexico

In the United States, many of us of never heard of Zacua, but the company is making headlines on both sides of the border, since it is introducing the first electric car made completely in Mexico by a Mexican company. Zacua is introducing two new electric cars, the the M2 and the M3, which will go on sale in November. The two small electric coupes will be made by Motores Limpios, but sold in Mexico under the Zacua brand name. “Global warming has very serious consequences [and] Mexico...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/zacua-introduces-the-first-electric-car-from-mexico
via Inhabitat

The SHED Projects affordable micro-homes pop up in just one day

London’s housing crisis is one of the worst in the world, but an innovative new initiative could help alleviate the problem. Studio Bark teamed up with Lowe Guardians to create the SHED Project, a plan to insert affordable micro-homes inside vacant buildings across the city. Built from affordable, low-impact materials, these compact SHEDS take only one day to construct and can be easily styled into attractive tiny dwellings. Each SHED is built primarily of CNC-milled Smartply (formaldehyde-free...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/the-shed-projects-affordable-micro-homes-pop-up-in-just-one-day
via Inhabitat

Off-grid rainforest cabin built from scratch has minimal site impact

There’s no replacement for hands-on experience. Architecture students at the University of British Columbia designed and built this off-the-grid cabin from scratch. Located in the heart of a coastal rainforest on Gambier Island, SALAmander is a timber retreat sheltered beneath a leafy green canopy. This private sanctuary is only accessible by foot but the stunning surroundings are worth the trek. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJFbCrvZvaQ University of British Columbia students in...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/off-grid-rainforest-cabin-built-from-scratch-has-minimal-site-impact
via Inhabitat

Elon Musk urges UN to ban artificially intelligent killer robots

The same man who brought you PayPal, Tesla and SpaceX is now urging the UN — along with 115 other experts in robotics — to ban the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in managing weaponry. Elon Musk, in addition to technology leaders including Mustafa Suleyman of Google, believe “killer robot” technology is “morally wrong” and a potential threat to humanity. As a result, they are requesting it be outlawed. By banning “lethal autonomous” technology, the group hopes to prevent “a...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/elon-musk-urges-un-to-ban-artificially-intelligent-killer-robots
via Inhabitat

Massive new data center to be built in chilly Norway to offset energy use

The world's largest data center is set to be built in northern Norway, and will be completely reliant on renewable energy sources. American-Norwegian data company Kolos has partnered with architecture design firm HDR to finance and design the center which will utilize the cold climate and low humidity to meet its cooling demands. Data centers require huge amounts of power due to their cooling demands. What better place for such a facility than a fjord that sits within the Arctic Circle....

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/massive-new-data-center-to-be-built-in-chilly-norway-to-offset-energy-use
via Inhabitat

NASA map shows how climate change has set the world on fire

Portugal, Canada, and even Siberia have seen devastating wildfires this summer - with some people beginning to wonder if climate change will make such destructive fires normal. Maps with data from NASA's Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) show a world filled with red. National Center for Atmospheric Research scientist Kevin Trenberth told DW, "A lot of these things are happening locally, but people don't always connect them to climate change. But there is a real climate change...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/nasa-map-shows-how-climate-change-has-set-the-world-on-fire
via Inhabitat

Mercedes-Benz unveils stunning art deco-inspired electric car

Mercedes-Benz decided to go back to the 1930s for its latest concept car, the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 cabriolet concept. With its imposing grille and long sensuous curves, the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 cabriolet brings is an art deco-inspired car, but with a 21st century powertrain - four electric motors. At 20 feet long, the Vision Mercedes-Maybach 6 cabriolet is over five feet longer than the Nissan Leaf. At the front there's a grille that's inspired by a pinstripe suit, while as you...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/mercedes-benz-unveils-stunning-art-deco-inspired-electric-car
via Inhabitat

Oldest ice core ever dated reveals hidden clues to ancient Earth's atmosphere

Ice cores hold the secrets of what our planet was like millions of years ago, in bubbles preserving greenhouse gases from that time. A Princeton University-led team just revealed the date of what is now the oldest ice core we've ever dated, and it's 2.7 million years old. Beating the previous record by around 1.7 million years, the ice core could potentially help scientists determine what set off the ice ages. Related: Via Science Images via

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/oldest-ice-core-ever-dated-reveals-hidden-clues-to-ancient-earths-atmosphere
via Inhabitat

Self-taught designer builds a secret studio under a bridge in Valencia

Self-taught designer Fernando Abellanas built his studio in a very unusual space– into the underside of a traffic bridge in Valencia, Spain. This tiny moveable workspace has everything he needs, including shelves, chair and a desk that's been bolted into the concrete wall of the bridge. The designer built the workspace himself. He installed a hand crank and rails, along which the metal base can move from one side of the bridge to the other. From this hidden space, he can hear and see what happens...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/self-taught-designer-builds-a-secret-studio-under-a-bridge-in-valencia
via Inhabitat

Volkswagen confirms when the Microbus is coming back as an EV

For years Volkswagen has teased us with the idea of bringing back the much loved, iconic VW Microbus. Most recently, VW unveiled the I.D. Buzz concept car earlier this year, which applied the styling of a Microbus, but with a fully electric powertrain. After several rumors and reports, VW has confirmed that the Microbus will officially return in 2022.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/volkswagen-confirms-when-the-microbus-is-coming-back-as-an-ev
via Inhabitat

Village-inspired office in Jakarta is topped with living trees and a green roof

The new Aedas-designed Unilever HQ in Jakarta references Indonesia's traditional villages and creates a strong sense of community. The architects incorporated three main elements–community, diversity and nature–into the design and focused on facilitating collaboration while maintaining privacy. The new building sits in the BSD Green Office Park, Indonesia's first green office campus masterplanned by Aedas. It houses the company's four separate offices in Jakarta under one roof and combines...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/village-inspired-office-in-jakarta-is-topped-with-living-trees-and-a-green-roof
via Inhabitat

Major climate science denial group admits to using false temperature data

Though 97 percent of leading scientists agree that climate change is a very real threat — one that needs to be addressed immediately, there are factions that refuse to believe the mounting data on Earth’s rising surface temperatures. In fact, some groups have gone as far as to fabricate information in an effort to persuade readers to their side. This is exactly what climate science denying group the Global Warming Policy Foundation (GWPF) recently admitted to doing. On August...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/major-climate-science-denial-group-admits-to-using-false-temperature-data
via Inhabitat

Nomadic teahouse made with origami embodies Japanese minimalist beauty

Origami isn’t just beautiful—it can also be useful in architectural design. Katagiri Architecture + Design shows us how with Shi-An, a nomadic teahouse built with hundred of pieces of folded paper without the need for any glue. The minimalist and temporary structure embodies a Japanese sense of beauty and appreciation of the concept of transience. Winner of the RTFA 2017 Awards, Shi-An was constructed for the Japanese Culture EXPO 2016 at the Daidokoro in Nijo-Jo Castle in Kyoto,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/nomadic-teahouse-made-with-origami-embodies-japanese-minimalist-beauty
via Inhabitat

Singapore Night Festival dazzles crowds with 13 stunning light installations

The Singapore Night Festival is back and it’s pulling out all the stops for its 10th anniversary. Attracting crowds of over 500,000, the annual light festival bonanza transforms the city into a carnival of arts and culture with family-friendly activities, interactive installations, and pop-up eateries across two weekends from August 18 to August 26. Created to follow this year’s theme of “Ten Magical Years,” the iconic Night Lights exhibition brings to life 13 Instagrammable light installations. The...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/singapore-night-festival-dazzles-crowds-with-13-stunning-light-installations
via Inhabitat

South Korea is building a $10 billion agriculture city in Egypt

Within six months, an area of 300,000 feddans (non-metric unit) in Egypt will be transformed into an integrated agriculture city by South Korea. The $10 billion deal was signed on Tuesday by Egypt and Korea-Arab Society (KAS). The project will feature 50,000 smart greenhouses in addition to a number of seawater desalination and solar power plants.   Arab Finance reports that the protocol was signed by the General Authority for Reconstruction Projects and Agricultural Development, an affiliate...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/south-korea-is-building-a-10-billion-agriculture-city-in-egypt
via Inhabitat

Germany is electrifying part of the autobahn to cut freight emissions

Semi trucks are massive energy hogs - that's why Germany is helping change that with electric highways. We rely on trucks to get all of the goods we need from one place to another, but all of those semi trucks spew a lot of pollution - at least 12.5 percent of all emissions in the US. So Siemens and the Germany state of Hesse teamed up to create a 10km stretch of eHighway on the autobahn, where trucks can connect overhead electric cables while driving on the road, and move back to diesel power when...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/germany-is-electrifying-part-of-the-autobahn-to-cut-co2-emissions
via Inhabitat

White House kills ban on bottled water at National Parks

Photos by National Park Service/Flickr

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/white-house-kills-ban-on-bottled-water-at-national-parks
via Inhabitat

Scientists harness tobacco plants to produce polio vaccine

After all of the poor health outcomes caused by tobacco over centuries, it's about time that the plant starts doing some good for a change. Scientists in the United Kingdom have developed a technique to infect relatives of the tobacco plant with a virus which contains the genetic material of polio in order to produce leaves from which a polio vaccine could be extracted. This procedure is affordable, straightforward, and efficient and may be

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/scientists-harness-tobacco-plants-to-produce-polio-vaccine
via Inhabitat

Woven bamboo pavilion offers shelter to passion fruit farmers in China

Amazing projects like Ibuku's Green Village in Bali, and Tokyo pavilion by Vo Trong Nghia demonstrate the strength and malleability of bamboo. Students and researchers from the University of Hong Kong (HKU) have also recognized its limitless potentials as a great sustainable alternative to conventional building materials. After completing a glowing pavilion in their hometown, they designed another innovative bamboo structure– this time in China– using traditional weaving techniques and digital...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/woven-bamboo-pavilion-offers-shelter-to-passion-fruit-farmers-in-china
via Inhabitat

Compact OffGridBox provides clean drinking water and power where it's needed most

An Italian company has developed a compact solution for communities that lack access to clean drinking water and electricity - the OffGridBox. Measuring 6x6x6 feet, the container box features everything necessary to generate, convert and store solar energy, as well as collect, treat and distribute clean drinking water. But the system does have drawbacks - including a $15,000 price point that's hard to justify in certain corners of the world. Read on to learn how the founders are trying to make their...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/compact-offgridbox-provides-clean-drinking-water-and-power-where-its-needed-most
via Inhabitat

Huge circular windows flood Melbourne's Cirqua Apartments with natural light

Huge circular windows flood the interior of this apartment block in Melbourne with natural light. BKK Architects designed the Cirqua Apartments as a staggered volume that references the region's historical housing type and reinterprets it in a modern way. The block occupies a steeply sloping site in a residential neighborhood in Melbourne. Its exterior is dominated by huge porthole windows that span almost the full height of the six cubes. The openings bring natural light into the interior and...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/huge-circular-windows-flood-melbournes-cirqua-apartments-with-natural-light
via Inhabitat

Woman finds lost engagement ring rooted to a carrot - 13 years later

Via NPR Images via Liz West/Flickr, Shira Gal/Flickr, and Nate Steiner/Flickr

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/woman-finds-lost-engagement-ring-rooted-to-a-carrot-13-years-later
via Inhabitat

Subterranean Oxygen Park is a breath of fresh air in the Qatari desert

A “green lung” in Qatar’s desert landscape is helping people stay healthy and active, and reconnecting them to nature. Erik Behrens and James Haig Streeter of AECOM recently completed Oxygen Park, a unique public space in Doha’s Education City. Built to promote exercise and social gatherings, Oxygen Park is partly buried underground and features undulating, organic forms masses inspired by the desert’s wind-eroded rocks and landscapes. Oxygen Park derives its name from the...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/subterranean-oxygen-park-is-a-breath-of-fresh-air-in-the-qatari-desert
via Inhabitat

Cozy charred timber box adds a new social heart to Dublin home

A tiny new addition has made a big impact on a terraced home in North Dublin. Stephen Kavanagh Architects designed Copeland Grove, a sun-soaked home refurbishment and extension that connects to an existing garden. Formerly a leaky kitchen extension, the new timber-and-glass structure provides transformative panoramic views and greatly increases thermal comfort. Lighting was key in the design of the 24-square-meter timber extension. Full-height glazing and a skylight increase solar...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/cozy-charred-timber-box-adds-a-new-social-heart-to-dublin-home
via Inhabitat

Largest-ever modular Gomos system project to be completed in just a few months

Related: Modular Gomos homes can be assembled in three days flat + Gomos Housing Modular Gomos Housing, modular housing, prefab housing, flatpack housing, Gomos System, Portugal prefab building, modular structures in Portugal, modular architecture Portugal, prefab architecture, concrete modules, Porto, Portugal architecture, Samuel Gonçalves

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/largest-ever-modular-gomos-system-project-to-be-completed-in-just-a-few-months
via Inhabitat

Scientists just created green solar cells - and they're working on white, red and additional colors

Solar energy may provide power to approximately 5.7 million homes in the United States, but its application could still be more widespread. The issue is, many find the blue-black photovoltaics to be unsightly. Fortunately, this may no longer be a problem as researchers in The Netherlands have developed a process for making conventional solar panels bright green, and are in the process of developing other colors. By making the panels more appealing, more people and businesses are likely to invest...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/scientists-just-created-green-solar-cells-and-theyre-working-on-white-red-and-additional-colors
via Inhabitat

New refrigerator camera takes aim at food waste

We know food waste is an issue, but often it's all too easy to forget about that bag of lettuce in the back of your refrigerator until it rots. It turns out 40 percent of the salad British families buy each year ends up in the trash - but a new refrigerator camera could help slash that food waste. The Smarter FridgeCam helps people monitor expiration dates and even suggests recipes - for far less than the price of a smart refrigerator. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/new-refrigerator-camera-takes-aim-at-food-waste
via Inhabitat

Rooftop farms in Gaza provide lifeline to the community

Meeting even basic needs in Gaza can be a challenge for the nearly 2 million people that live in the territory's 141 square miles. Under the Israeli blockade, which prevents vital supplies from reaching Gaza and inhibits international trade, the Palestinians of Gaza rely on resilience and innovation to survive with the resources they have. Squeezed out of arable land, many Palestinians are farming upwards, on the rooftops of the dense urban Mediterranean territory.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/rooftop-farms-in-gaza-provide-lifeline-to-the-community
via Inhabitat

6 Surprising uses for garlic you probably didnt know about

It's garlic harvesting season, and those glorious, aromatic bulbs will be adorning farmer's market stalls everywhere. Garlic isn't just good for flavoring bread and warding off vampires: it has many great uses for your health, as well as around your home and garden. Read on to find out some of its more surprising uses, and develop even greater love for this fine and fragrant bulb.       Topical Treatment for Cold Sores and Acne   Organic Pesticide for House and...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/6-surprising-uses-for-garlic-you-probably-didnt-know-about
via Inhabitat

You can build one of these tiny backyard offices in less a week for under $7000

Austin-based Sett Studio designs tiny offices that take conventional workspaces to task. These micro-offices can be used for a variety of applications and offer a flexible solution for an affordable price. The firm's newest design, named NOVI, is a compact DIY concept perfect for those looking for a mobile outdoor workspace. As the tiny living concept is gaining in popularity, an increasing number of people are looking into more flexible office spaces that bring them closer to nature. This year,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/you-can-build-one-of-these-tiny-backyard-offices-in-less-a-week-for-under-7000
via Inhabitat

Revolutionary glass building blocks generate their own solar energy

There's a new building block in town, and it generates its own clean energy. Researchers from Exeter University developed revolutionary new glass blocks that are embedded with small solar cells. Not only do the blocks generate energy, but they also provide thermal insulation and allow natural light to enter buildings. Called Solar Squared, the blocks are embedded with an array of optical elements that focus sunlight on tiny solar cells - during the manufacture process. The design ensures...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/revolutionary-glass-building-blocks-generate-their-own-solar-energy
via Inhabitat

Prototype 9 is a retro electric roadster with the Nissan Leaf's heart

Infiniti is bringing us back to the 1940s with its Prototype 9 roadster, which is going to debut this month at the 2017 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. On the outside the Prototype 9 is a sexy retro concept, but under the skin it's all about the future, since it's powered by the next-generation Nissan Leaf's electric powertrain.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/prototype-9-is-a-retro-electric-roadster-with-the-nissan-leafs-heart
via Inhabitat

The devastating reason Mumbai dogs are turning blue

Lately, blue stray dogs have been spotted running around Navi Mumbai, India, and it isn't because someone got a little too liberal with the hair dye. Inadequate waste treatment at a local river has allowed dye to leach into the water, turning dogs who wade in to turn bright blue. To add to the concern, the pollution is likely harming fish and birds who rely on the water resource.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/the-devastating-reason-mumbai-dogs-are-turning-blue
via Inhabitat

LEED-seeking illumina i3 campus lets workers work anywhere

San Diego’s new BioMed Realty i3 campus is raising the bar for corporate research parks everywhere. Perkins+Will recently designed the iconic science and research campus that’s on track for LEED Platinum certification and exemplifies the “work anywhere” culture. Filled with natural light and topped with green roofs, this environmentally progressive design features a wide variety of energy saving measures and reduces energy and water use by 30 and 20 percent. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWoSGnm6C0c Located...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/leed-seeking-illumina-i3-campus-lets-workers-work-anywhere
via Inhabitat

Various Architects turn an industrial Oslo building into contemporary offices

A historic building in Oslo’s locomotive industrial zone has been transformed into contemporary offices filled with natural light. This adaptive reuse project, called Lokomotivstallen, has been praised as a positive example of recycling and historical restoration in the city. Designed by Various Architects, the modern offices house the rail-based intermodal company CargoNet. The 3,000-square-foot building has a peculiar rectangular footprint that’s much longer than it is wide with...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/various-architects-turn-an-industrial-oslo-building-into-contemporary-offices
via Inhabitat

Historic Amsterdam park gets new life with a funky climbing "blob"

Related: Basurama transforms landfill trash into playgrounds in Taipei + Carve Photography by Marleen Beek via Carve Carve, Beatrix Park Amsterdam, urban parks, urban design, green space amsterdam, landscape architecture, park design, park landscape, playground design

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/historic-amsterdam-park-gets-new-life-with-a-funky-climbing-blob
via Inhabitat

Elephants rescue 600 people from floods in Nepal

    Due to heavy rains in Kathmandu, India, at least 15 people have been killed and 2.3 million displaced in just the past few days. Fortunately for approximately 600 foreigners who were visiting Sauraha, no additional lives were lost after the nearby Rapti River overflowed its banks. This is because elephants at the Chitwan National Park transported the tourists to safety.   https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera/videos/10155908311438690/?ref=notif&notif_t=notify_me_page&notif_id=1502737875516262 Said...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/elephants-rescue-600-people-from-floods-in-nepal
via Inhabitat

Montana judge stops massive coal mine expansion, citing climate impact

In another strike against coal, a federal judge just shut down plans for a large coal mine expansion in Montana, saying that US officials had exaggerated the economic benefits of the mine while downplaying the impact it would have on the environment. Signal Peak Energy wanted to expand the Bull Mountain coal mine by 28-square kilometers (11-square miles) and 159-metric tons (176-million tons). U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy blocked the proposal, ruling that approving such a request should...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/montana-judge-stops-massive-coal-mine-expansion-citing-climate-impact
via Inhabitat

Fixing Earth's ozone layer has other surprising benefits, new study shows

As climate change steadily advances while global leadership moves ever so slowly towards taking action, it can difficult to have faith in international solutions to a global environmental problem. However, such international collaboration has a record of success in the Montreal Protocol, an agreement signed nearly thirty years ago by dozens of nations to stop the expansion of a massive hole in the ozone layer. Today, the hole in the ozone layer has shrunk as the United States and other signatories...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/fixing-earths-ozone-layer-has-other-surprising-benefits-new-study-shows
via Inhabitat

Swiss grocery store chain will be the first to sell insect burgers

Would you eat a burger made of mealworms? Coop, the second-largest supermarket chain in Switzerland, will start selling food made with insects after food laws changed in May. No other European country has yet authorized sales of insect-based food, making Switzerland the first. Coop will sell insect burgers and balls from Switzerland-based startup Essento. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/swiss-grocery-store-chain-will-be-the-first-to-sell-insect-burgers
via Inhabitat

Spectacular 'Dome of Visions' greenhouse pushes the envelope for wood construction

Finnish wood company Metsä Wood is known for pushing the envelope when it comes to building with wood. Their latest dome experiment, the largest one to date, relies of the company's innovative structural use of laminated veneer lumber as a sustainable alternative to commonly used building materials. The structure, named Dome of Visions, was designed by Atelier Kristoffer Tejlgaard. The Dome of Visions 3.0 is the third project in a series of experiments that explore the idea of creating...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/spectacular-dome-of-visions-greenhouse-pushes-the-envelope-for-wood-construction
via Inhabitat

South Australia to build world's biggest single-tower solar thermal plant

South Australia is going big again -- as in world-beating big. Last month the state government signed a deal with Tesla to build the world's largest lithium-ion battery storage facility. Now State Premier Jay Weatherill has announced plans to construct the world's biggest single-tower solar thermal plant in Port Augusta -- the 150 megawatt Aurora Solar Energy Project.  

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/south-australia-to-build-worlds-biggest-single-tower-solar-thermal-plant
via Inhabitat

Thomas Heatherwick's London Garden Bridge officially scrapped

Plans to build Thomas Heatherwick's controversial Garden Bridge in London have been officially scrapped. The Garden Bridge Trust, charity that was to build and run the bridge, just announced the end of the project due to the lack of support by London mayor Sadiq Khan. The main reason behind this, according to mayor Khan's earlier statement, was the project's spiraling construction and maintenance costs. A financial inquiry into the Garden Bridge project found that the initial estimated costs escalated...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/thomas-heatherwicks-london-garden-bridge-officially-scrapped
via Inhabitat

Global ocean circulation may be slowing down due to Arctic ice loss

Humanity is entering a phase of grave uncertainty as rising temperatures wreck havoc on our planet. Researchers from Yale University and the University of Southhampton have found evidence that Arctic ice loss may be having a negative impact on the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) study published recently in Nature A recent study published in Nature outlines research by a team of Yale University and University of Southhampton scientists. The team found evidence that Arctic...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/global-ocean-circulation-may-be-slowing-down-due-to-arctic-ice-loss
via Inhabitat

Luxury Tree Villa communes with breathtaking nature in India

A picture-perfect getaway roosts in the treetops of west India. Architecture BRIO completed the Tree Villa, a two-story luxury getaway on the cliff of a 160-acre “treesort.” Set within the rich river landscape of Tala near the Kuda caves, the treehouse-like glass dwelling offers an immersive experience within a forested tropical setting. Architecture BRIO built the Tree Villa around existing mature trees, which grow up and through the roof, deck, and fencing, and give the structure...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/luxury-tree-villa-communes-with-breathtaking-nature-in-india
via Inhabitat

TSEH transforms 14 shipping containers into a cozy and modern Kiev cafe

Unit Cafe’s interiors are so cozy and modern it’s easy to forget that it’s built inside shipping containers. TSEH Arhitectural Group transformed 14 clunky shipping containers into Unit Cafe, a light-filled contemporary cafeteria and meeting space for the IT school 'Unit Factory' in Kiev, Ukraine. The 275-square-meter Unit Cafe doesn't disguise its industrial roots. The corrugated texture of the stacked shipping containers is left exposed with the lower containers and the vertically...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/tseh-transforms-14-shipping-containers-into-a-cozy-and-modern-kiev-cafe-%e2%80%a8
via Inhabitat

Staggered volumes help make Portland's Slate building an energy-efficient marvel

Oregon's new mixed-use development, known as Slate, looks like a shifting stack of volumes which reflects the vibrancy and complexity of the neighborhood. The development, designed by Works Progress Architecture for co-developers Urban Development Partners and Beam Development, has earned the LEED Gold certification as an energy-efficient complex that takes the curtain-wall system to the next level. The 10-story development has six floors of apartment units, up to four floors of co-working office...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/staggered-volumes-help-make-portlands-slate-building-an-energy-efficient-marvel
via Inhabitat

Bill Gates gives away $4.6 billion worth of Microsoft shares

Time and time again, Bill Gates has proven himself to be quite the philanthropist. Now, he’s affirming his charitable nature by reducing his stake in the Microsoft company to just 1.3 percent (compared to 24 percent in 1996). Gates is doing this by donating 64 million shares of Microsoft, which is worth a total of $4.6 billion. Bloomberg reports that the donation is the biggest since he gave away $16 billion worth in 1999 and $5.1 billion of shares in 2000. The news was revealed...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/bill-gates-gives-away-4-6-billion-worth-of-microsoft-shares
via Inhabitat

San Diegans could get $20,000 off price of electric car

Elon Musk might have just ushered in the era of affordable electric vehicles with the first Tesla Model 3 cars rolling off the production line, but south of the Fremont factory in San Diego there is another great deal going on. Starting this month and running through the end of September, San Diego Gas & Electric customers can take advantage of a $10,000 discount off the purchase of a 2017 Nissan Leaf or a 2017 BMW i3. When the state of California's $2,500 EV rebate and the $7,500 federal...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/san-diegans-could-get-20000-off-price-of-electric-car
via Inhabitat

'Trump Forest' plants trees to offset president's climate ignorance

American president Donald Trump is notorious for his ignorance on climate change. So instead of sitting by while his administration harmed the planet, a British climate scientist, American PhD candidate, and French/New Zealand sustainable hat company founder decided to take action. They started Trump Forest to encourage people to plant trees, and have seen a huge response: so far 130,999 trees have been pledged from people around the world. Related: + Trump Forest Via the BBC Images...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/trump-forest-plants-trees-to-offset-presidents-climate-ignorance
via Inhabitat

Video of rare all-white moose in Sweden

The rare appearance of a white moose is being celebrated by animal enthusiasts worldwide, as the majestic animal is estimated to be one of just 100 living in Sweden. Hans Nilsson, who has been tracking the elusive creature for three years, captured the footage on August 11 in the province of Varmland. As soon as it was uploaded, the video went viral. https://youtu.be/8uZNzMj2Qx8 The BBC reports that the white moose is not albino but lacks color due to a genetic mutation. True albino...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/video-of-rare-all-white-moose-in-sweden
via Inhabitat

Airy Costa Rica home enjoys incredible views of the ocean and jungle

This gorgeous residence in Costa Rica occupies a unique location near Santa Teresa Beach in Costa Rica, where the jungle meets the Pacific Ocean. Architect Benjamin Garcia Saxe designed the Ocean Eye House as an airy residence that offers stunning views of its natural surroundings and supports an outdoor lifestyle. The house, listed for the WAN House of the Year 2017, rests against the back of a steep hill. It combines closed, private spaces and lightweight, open areas that allow the owners to...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/airy-costa-rica-home-enjoys-incredible-views-of-the-ocean-and-jungle
via Inhabitat

Kenyan activists are using human poop to make affordable cooking fuel

In Kenya, Africa, where resources are scarce and nearly half of the population lives below the poverty line, dried poop briquettes are providing a clean cooking solution to many families. Such has been made possible by Nakuru Water and Sanitation Services Company, which takes in truckloads of sewage from septic systems and pit latrines and transforms the waste into safe, economical briquettes. Not only do the briquettes burn cleaner and longer than coal, they are also odor-free. https://youtu.be/M7P3t1Z2iKg Ordinarily,...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/kenyan-activists-are-using-human-poop-to-make-affordable-cooking-fuel
via Inhabitat

Mexico's gorgeous Sunset Chapel looks like a gigantic boulder

Through several contrasting features, this striking chapel in Acapulco, Mexico, embodies both the feeling of hope and sadness. Mexico City-based Bunker Arquitectura constructed the Sunset Chapel on top of a hill and gave it an appearance of a huge boulder that blends into the natural environment of the site. The chapel provides view of the bay and combines contrasting materials–glass and concrete–to reflect the duality of the experience the building aims to provide. By embodying both...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/mexicos-gorgeous-sunset-chapel-looks-like-a-gigantic-boulder
via Inhabitat

People in Denmark are earning up to $1,530 by parking their electric cars

What if you could get cash just by parking your electric car? Vehicle owners in Denmark have been able to bring in around 1,300 Euros, or around $1,530 a year by feeding excess power back into the grid. Nissan Motor Company conducted trials in the country with Italy's utility company Enel SpA to show how EV batteries could help balance supply and demand. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/people-in-denmark-are-earning-up-to-1530-by-parking-their-electric-cars
via Inhabitat

Restorative Healing Gardens take over a concrete garage rooftop in L.A.

A healing green landscape has blossomed in the place of a former concrete plaza in Los Angeles. Local firm AHBE Landscape Architects transformed a concrete site atop a multi-level garage into the new Healing Gardens for Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. The unique, green roof-inspired system features four distinct gardens that promote healing, health, and well being for patients, hospital staff, and visitors. Since the site was located atop a building, AHBE had to develop a multi-layered...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/restorative-healing-gardens-take-over-a-concrete-garage-rooftop-in-l-a
via Inhabitat

Breathable skin to wrap around stunning light-filled Book City in Shenzhen

Arts and culture aren’t thought of as Shenzhen’s strong suits, but the manufacturing megacity is making quick work to change its image. As part of the Chinese city’s movement to embrace creative and cultural industries, local architecture firm Atelier Global was announced the winner of a design competition for the Shenzhen Book City, a mixed-use development in the heart of the Long Hua arts district. The winning design features a massive modern complex punctuated with greenery and wrapped in...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/breathable-skin-to-wrap-around-stunning-light-filled-book-city-in-shenzhen
via Inhabitat

Renzo Piano embeds modern art gallery with 'winged' roof into French vineyard

Related: Italy’s Green-Roofed Antinori Winery is Topped With a Vineyard! Swedish architect surprises mum with dazzling corrugated aluminum home + Renzo Piano Building Workshop Via Dezeen

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/renzo-piano-embeds-modern-art-gallery-with-winged-roof-into-french-vineyard
via Inhabitat

IKEA plans to cut food waste in half by 2020 heres how

You now have one more reason to love IKEA. By 2020, the Swedish company aims to cut its food waste at its stores — both in restaurants and in smaller bistros — by 50 percent. To accomplish this, employees will use digital scales to record the type and weight of food sent to the bin. In turn, they will learn the cost of the discarded food and its carbon footprint. Over time, the data will help the company make changes. The new food waste system was actually launched in 2015 and...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/ikea-plans-to-cut-food-waste-in-half-by-2020-heres-how
via Inhabitat

Undergrad student leads scientists to discover nearly 100 unknown volcanoes - in Antarctica

There's a new contender for Earth's biggest volcanic region: Antarctica. Researchers found 91 volcanoes previously unknown to humans, and the volcanoes are massive, ranging in height from around 328 to 12,631 feet. They were tipped off to the cluster of volcanoes thanks to a third-year undergraduate student at the University of Edinburgh. Third-year student Max Van Wyk de Vries analyzed radar mapping data of the continent, and proposed a study to the university. Scientists were then able...

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/undergrad-student-leads-scientists-to-discover-nearly-100-unknown-volcanoes-in-antarctica
via Inhabitat

Chinese researchers develop flexible salt-powered batteries

As the world rushes to transition to a new energy economy, researchers are uncovering novel, and potentially widely applicable, methods for harvesting energy from mundane, everyday sources. A research team in China has created a new battery that could be safely used in wearable or implantable devices, thanks to its use of salt-based electrolytes.

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/chinese-researchers-develop-flexible-salt-powered-batteries
via Inhabitat

Solar-powered Tesla Tiny House hits the road in Australia

Tesla's taking to the streets to demonstrate their clean technology. A Model X is pulling around a tiny house showcasing a solar system and Powerwall, giving the curious a way to check out the renewable tech in action. Their Tiny House is serving as a mobile design studio in major Australian cities. Related:

from Inhabitat - Green Design, Innovation, Architecture, Green Building http://inhabitat.com/solar-powered-tesla-tiny-house-hits-the-road-in-australia
via Inhabitat